Economizer and smoke-consumer.



No. 792,827. PATENTED JUNE 13, 1905. I W. F GOODNOW.

ECGNOMIZER AND SMOKE CONSUMER.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 26, 1904.

UNITED STATES Patented June -1 3, 1905.

PATENT OEEioE.

ECONOIVIIZER AND SMOKE-CONSUMER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 792,327, dated June13, 1905.

Application filed October 26,1904. Serial. No. 230,010.

To all whmn it may concern:

Be it known that I, l/VALLAGE F. GooDNow, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Cambridge, county of Middlesex, State of'Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Economizers andSmoke-Consumers, of which the following description, in connection withthe accompanyingdrawings, is a specification, like numerals on thedrawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to provide a novel attachment to afurnace which operates both as an economizer and as a smokeconsumer.

The device comprises a heating-chamber which is interposed in thesmoke-pipe of the furnace, so that the products of combustion passtherethrough,air-flues extending through the heating-chamber and openinginto or communicating with a mixing-chamber, means to draw air throughthe air-fines and mixingchamber and deliver said air to thecombustion-chamber of the furnace, and a valved passage between theheating-chamber and the mixing-chamber, so that a portion of theproducts of combustion may be drawn through said passage and commingledwith the air in the mixing-chamber before the latter is delivered to thecombustion-chamber of the furnace. The air is heated as it is drawnthrough the air-fines, and therefore the heat still remaining in theproducts of combustion is used to heat the air before it is delivered tothe combustion chamber of the furnace. The valve controlling the passagebetween the heating-chamber and the mixing-chamber is preferablycontrolled automatically by some damper-regulator, and when it is opensome of the products of combustion from the heating-chamber are drawntherethrough and commingle with the heated air, thus diluting the airwhich is delivered to the combustionchamber of the furnace. The valvedpassage is so arranged that the heavier portions of the gases passingthrough the heating-chamber are withdrawn therefrom, these heavierportions including the unburned gas and any particles of unburned carbonwhich normally go to waste up the chimney. By withdrawing these productsfrom the heating-chamber and commingling them with the air not only arethey saved and the heat units contained therein liberated in thecombustion-chamber of the furnace, but they also serve to further heatthe air with which they commingle, and thus render the furnace moreeconomical.

It will be seen that by my invention I employ the heat which usuallypasses up the chimney and is wasted to heat the air before it isdelivered to the combustion-chamber of the furnace, and I also withdrawfrom the gases escaping from the combustion-chamber the unburned gasesand smoke and deliver these products back to the combustion-chamber,where they are completely consumed. This makes the furnace a smokelessfurnace and also one having a great efficiency.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a furnacewith my improvements applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of theheating-chamber with a portion broken out to show the interiorconstruction. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 00 m, Fig. 2; and Fig. 4:is a side view thereof with a portion broken out.

3 designates a furnace of any suitable or usual construction, and 4 thebreech or smokepipe through which the products of combustion escape tothe chimney. (Not shown.) In applying my invention to a furnace of thischaracter I interpose in the smoke-pipe a heating-chamber 5, throughwhich pass a plurality of air-flues 6, said flues preferably having astaggered arrangement. The lower ends of said air-flues open to theatmosphere, and their upper ends open into an air-chamber or compartment7 above the heating-chamber, said air-chamber preferably being smallerat one end than at the other, as best seen in Fig. 4. One end of theair-chamber is extended, as at 8, to form a mixing-chamber whichoverlies or extends alongside of the side of the heating-chamber.Connected to the lower end of the mixing-chamber is a pipe 9, leading toa suction-fan 10, and from said fan is a delivery-pipe 11, which leadsto the combustion-chamber of the furnace. Said delivery-pipe may bearranged to deliver the air either beneath the grate or above the grate,or partially beneath and partially above the grate. In the inventionherein illustrated said pipe is arranged with one delivery branch 12 todeliver the air beneath the grate and another, 13, to deliver it abovethe grate. Each of said branches are preferably provided with suitabledampers or valves 14:.

In case the boilers are arranged in a battery the pipe 11 will beextended to the various boilers of the battery and the delivery branches12 and 13 led from said pipe to each furnace.

The partition between the heating-chamber 5 and the mixing-chamber 8 isprovided with a valved opening 15, which is adapted to be closed by asuitable valve 16. Said valve is herein illustrated as having avalve-stem 17, which is connected to any suitable damperregulator 18 tobe operated thereby.

The operation of the device will be apparent from the above description.The gases delivered from the combustion-chamber of the furnace passthrough the smoke-pipe 7 and into the heating-chamber 5, and on theirpassage through said chamber they heat the air-flues 6. The suction-fan10 tends to create a vacuum in the mixing-chamber 8, and thereby drawsair through the air-Hues 6. Said air becomes heated upon its passagethrough the lines and after being thus heated is delivered through thepipe 11 to the combustion-chamber for the purpose of supportingcombustion. The unconsumed gases which escape through the smokepipe 4and the heavier products carried thereby, such as smoke and unburnedcarbon, being slightly retarded by the air-Hues settle to the lower partof the heating-chamber and are drawn through the valve-passage 15 intothe mixingchamber by the operation of the exhaust-fan, where they becomecommingled with the heated air, with the result that they are deliveredto the combustion-chamber of the furnace. The amount which the valve 16is opened is controlled by the automatic damper-regulator 18, and as aresult if the [ire in the furnace becomes too hot the regulator 18 willopen the damper 16 wider, thus permitting a greater portion of theproducts of combustion and unconsumed matter therein to be commingledwith the air, and thus diluting the air to a greater extent. It will beobvious, of course, that the greater the air is diluted the less oxygenthere will be to support combustion, and as a result the lire willgradually 0001. TV hen the temperature or steam pressure, as the casemay be, drops below a certain point, the automatic regulator will closethe damper 16 a little, thus reducing the amount of dilution in the air,with the result that the percentage of oxygen therein is increased. Theobvious result of this condition is to increase the temperature of thefire.

By means of my invention not only is the unconsumed matter which escapesfrom the combustion-chamber of the furnace with the products ofcombustion. recovered and re turned to the combustionchamber, where itis utilized, but the heat in the products of combustion which areescaping and which would otherwise be wasted is used to heat the air ofthe force-draft apparatus, thus rendering the furnace much moreeconomical.

Although I prefer to operate the damper 16 by means of an automaticdamper-regulator, yet my invention would not be departed from if saiddamper were manually operated.

In case the device is used in connection with a battery of boilers Icould either employ a heating-chamber for each boiler or employ a largeheating-chamber which is connected with the smoke-pipes of all thefurnaces of the battery.

It will be understood that various changes in the construction andarrangement of the parts may be made Without departing from myinvention.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, is-

1. A furnace, a smoke-pipe connected thereto, a heating-chamberconnected to the smokepipe, air-Hues passing through said heatingchamberand open at one end to the atmosphere, a mixing-chamber with which theother end of said flues communicate, a valved passage between theheating-chamber and mixing-chamber, and means to draw air through theair-Hues and mixing-chamber and deliver said air to thecombustion-chamber of the furnace, said means also operating to drawinto the mixing-chamber through the valved passage a portion of theproducts of combustion which become mixed with the air.

2. A furnace having a smoke-pipe, a casing divided into aheating-chamber and a mixingchamber, a valved passage between said twochambers, air-fines extending through the heating-chamber, said fluesbeing open at one end to the atmosphere and at the other endcommunicating with the mixing-chamber, and means to draw air throughsaid flues into and through the mixing-chamber where it is mixed withunburned material drawn through the valved passage from theheating-chamber, said means operating to force said commingled air andunburned material into the combustion-chamber of the furnace.

3. A furnace having a smoke-pipe, a casing partitioned to form aheating-chamberand a mixing-chamber, said heating-chamber communicatingwith and forming an extension of the smoke-pipe, a valve controllingaport between the mixing-chamber and heating-chamber, air-flues extendingthrough the heatingchamber, said flues being open at one end to theatmosphere and communicating at the other end with the mixing-chamber, aforceddraft apparatus to draw air through the airfines andmixing-chamber and force said air into the combustion-chamber of thefurnace, and automatic means to control said valve.

4. In a furnace, a smoke-pipe connected thereto, a heating-chamberconnected to the smoke-pipe, air-fines passing through saidheating-chamber and open at one end to the atmosphere, a mixing-chamberwith which the other end of said flues communicate, a valve controllinga port between the mixing-chamber and heating-chamber, automatic meansto operate said valve, and means to draw air through said air-fines andmixing-chamber and deliver said air to the combustion-chamher of thefurnace.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

lNALLAOE F. GOODNOW. l/Vitnesses:

LoUIs 0. SMITH, MARGARET A. DUNN.

